RideShares Roll on as CPUC Evaluates Safety

Ride-sharing companies Lyft, Sidecar and Uber have paved a new way to get around around the city, but also created controversy about the legality and safety of their activity.

In November, the California Public Utilities Commision (CPUC) cited the companies $20,000 each for public safety violations.

Commissioners are now opening a proceeding to evaluate the public safety of these services. The commission announced on December 20 that it’s accepting public comment regarding consumer protection and safety implications of the new methods for reserving rides; how these new business models differ from longstanding forms of ridesharing; and the new transportation business models’ potential impact on insurance and transportation access, the CPUC explained in a recent press release.

“Our evaluation is not intended to stifle innovation and new services for consumers, but rather to assess public safety risks, and to ensure that the safety of the public is not compromised by the operation of these new transportation business models,” said CPUC President Michael R. Peevey.

In the meantime, ride-seeking passengers continue to book rides on their smart phones.